Seeking a Way to Become Stronger
After that, the meeting proceeded smoothly.
The elementary school students finished putting up decorations like streamers, stars, and balloons, as well as decorating the Christmas tree.
Then they began helping prepare for upcoming activities and rehearsing for the children's performance. At this point, the Service Club's job was essentially done.
"Well then, we'll be heading back first," Yukinoshita said, standing up.
"Eh? Senpai, you're not staying to help? We still need to make flyers for the event!" Isshiki Iroha cried out in surprise at their departure.
"No. The request we accepted only went as far as getting your completely unproductive meetings back on track. The rest is student council business," Yukinoshita stated bluntly.
"Exactly. So, Iroha, do your best with everyone in the student council!" Yuigahama said with a wink and a smile.
"Ugh… Shirou-senpai~ you'll stay and help me, won't you?" Isshiki gave him a pleading look with her big, watery eyes, acting coy.
Shirou declined, "Sorry, Iroha. I've got something I need to do today."
"Eh? Got it…" Isshiki looked at him with some surprise.
Normally, even if it were a stranger asking, this senpai would agree without hesitation.
It looked like this time he really did have something important.
"Senpai! If there's anything I can help with, please let me know!" Iroha smiled at him.
She'd now decided to support her senpai just as he had once supported her.
"Thanks. You focus on your student council work. I'll get things taken care of as soon as I can and come back to help you." Shirou smiled as he replied.
"Okay! I'll be right here waiting for you to come back, Senpai!" Isshiki said cheerfully.
"Iroha-chan, good luck! Don't aim low with your dreams! Once we max out Altera the San(ta), let's go clear the entire lotto box!" Mash came forward, pumped her fist, and encouraged her fellow student.
"Mash! Got it! I'll give it my all!" Isshiki was deeply inspired.
Right, she had to charge ahead like she was going to clear the whole lotto box!
Alright, time to finish all this work quickly!
The girl burned with renewed determination. Whether it was work or anything else, she definitely wouldn't lose to Yukinoshita-senpai!
I'll show you! I'll work hard and become a truly great student council president!
As her resolve grew stronger, somewhere in the unseen world, the compatibility with a certain twin-blade swordswoman with faint pink hair quietly increased again.
Once Shirou and the girls stepped outside the building, the world outside had already been restored.
The protective membrane had been patched up by the world's consciousness—but that didn't change the harsh reality: monsters could now enter the real world and cause destruction directly.
Everyone walked on in silence. The atmosphere was a little heavy.
"So... what do we do now? That bad Heroic Spirit is probably going to show up again, right?" Yuigahama asked worriedly.
"Yuigahama-senpai, right now that Heroic Spirit has gone into hiding. Chaldea can't detect any magical response. But as long as we're all together, we can definitely defeat him," Mash reassured her.
"True. Worrying won't help. For now, let's all go home and rest," Yukinoshita decided.
"Yeah, I think that's best too. Everyone's tired from today's fight, and the next battles will probably be even harder. So we definitely need to rest up—both physically and mentally," Asuna smiled and bid everyone goodbye.
"Alright then, see you all tomorrow," Shirou nodded. Since they were near the train station, he escorted the girls to the subway before they each headed home.
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Afterward, Shirou returned to his room. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he opened his phone system and contacted Chaldea.
"Da Vinci-chan, I need to talk to you about something."
"Yes, yes, what do you want to ask?" Once the call connected, Da Vinci's hologram appeared.
"I'll get straight to the point. Is there a way for me to obtain Emiya's Spirit Origin?" Shirou asked.
"You want to become a Heroic Spirit? That's not possible right now—not while Heroic Spirit Emiya doesn't exist anymore.
Though you could be considered a possible version of Emiya Shirou, you're still a different person," Da Vinci said, shaking her head.
"My combat foundation is the Reality Marble Unlimited Blade Works.
Though my internal projection world exists within my soul, this world's body of mine doesn't have magical energy. And if I rely on Possession Summoning, I'm using other Heroic Spirits' Spirit Origins. Merlin is strong, yes, but he's not the most compatible with my fighting style," Shirou explained.
"A Reality Marble, huh... In that case, there might be a way," Da Vinci replied.
"There is?!" Shirou asked excitedly.
In his past life, as a magus, he was above average, but as a magician, he was third-rate. Even after gaining part of Merlin's experience, he was still only second-rate.
"Yes. Though the transfer device is a bit unstable, why don't you try Possession Summoning into a Heroic Spirit form and come visit Chaldea?" Da Vinci clapped her hands and smiled.
"Eh?" Shirou was stunned—so he could go to the otherworldly Chaldea?
"Then let's get going~!" Da-chan popped up on his phone screen and activated the Possession Summon. Da Vinci operated the machine. White light enveloped Shirou, and just like that, he was transported to the otherworldly Chaldea.
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The days leading up to Christmas grew colder and colder.
According to the weather forecast, it might even rain soon—not great news for students facing entrance exams.
In the early morning, on the way to school, there weren't many people on the street yet. Just breathing made clouds of white fog puff from your mouth.
A cold wind blew through.
"So cold~~" Komachi immediately hugged herself and shivered, rubbing her hands together and burying her face deep into her scarf as she grumbled internally.
"Seriously! Onii-chan is the worst! At a time like this, when his cute little sister needs him most to block the wind, he just says he has some important training to do and leaves Komachi behind!"
Because it was so cold, the girl didn't even realize that, at some point, there were no other pedestrians around.
She was now inside an isolated alternate space.
In front of her, a rift tore through the air.
A giant blue dragon over ten meters tall let out a roar, forcing the rift wider and crawling out of it. The path was now blocked by the dragon. This monster had picked up Emiya's scent and was tracking it.
Komachi stood frozen, staring at the dragon that somehow looked familiar. She tilted her head in confusion and rubbed her eyes. Was she so stressed from studying that she was hallucinating now?
That's what she thought as she pulled out her phone. Might as well open FGO and farm some dragon scales to calm down.
"ROOOAAARR!!"
The dragon opened its mouth and roared. The sound waves and the wind pressure blew her hair and scarf wildly.
"It's real! It's really here for revenge!" Komachi turned and raised her hands, bolting away with a cry: "UWAAAH! Onii-chan, save Komachi!!"